Control system



Dec 13 1949 w. H. GILLE 2,491,372

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CONTROL SYSTEM Filed April l0, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /IJ /l Ffa/ w l f AM dimmen This invention' relates long in duration, are entirely practicable.

Patented Uccelli, 1949 UNITED STATES 'PATEN'l vOFFICE.

I Yannata ooN'rnoL SYSTEM l Willis n; Gille, se Paul.' assign to MinneapolIs-Honeywell Regulator Company, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation ofDelaware Application April 1o, 194i, serial No, 530,424

generally to control systems of an electrical nature, and more particularly to a' system, Aor means, for' controlling or indicating the speed of a moving element.

The invention has particular application to electronic control systems for the supcrcharger or air compressor of an aircraftengine or similar internal combustion engine. Such systems usually include a turbine-for driving the compressor, and this turbine is powered by the exhaust gases from the engine under control of a valve, commonly called a waste gate, which, when opened, by-passes the gases to atmosphere to reduce the operating speed of the turbine, and when Y closed, diverts more of the gases through the turbine to increase its speed. The compression ratio of the compressor increases and decreases with its speed and the position of the waste gate thus determines the pressure of the air supplied 1 Vby the compressor to the engine for combustion purposes. Electronic means is provided to position the waste lgate according to requirements and for maintaining aselected value of the pressures of the air supplied to the engine.

Y cause the turbine and compressor to exceed a 5 maximum safe operating speed, with resulting damage to these parts. On the other hand, there are times when it is necessary or desirable to in-` crease the speed of these parts above this safe level in order to facilitate maneuvering of the aircraft and such overspeed periods, if not too It follows, then, that not only is an overspeed control of anv automatically functioning nature desirable in such systems but also that manually operable means should be provided for overriding this control at any time at the direction of the pilot or engineer of the aircraft, in order to afford short periods of extra power, commonly called "war power, when required in emergencies.

Heretofore systems of this nature have usually employed a mechanically functioning governor Adevice connected to the turbine-compressor unit and operating a variable element in the circuit` controlling the waste gate to override the call of the circuit for closing movements of the waste gate to increase the pressure of the air supplied to the engine, when such an increase would cause an over-speeding condition. Such systems have necessarily been fairly complicated, however, and

11 claims v(cl. 23o-s) 'have also been diillcult to arrange'- for manual selection of emergency speed of the turbine when required. Y

It is the primary object of my invention, therefore, to improve this phase or part of such control circuits by the provision of an electrical system for limiting the speed of the turbinecompressor unit and with convenient means for overcoming such limit control when excess power is required and thereby permitting the turbine and compressor to operate at higher speeds for limited periods.

Another object is to provide a resonant network or circuit between the variable frequency generator and a reversible motor means which will operate in such a manner as to cause the motor means to operate only when the speed of the generator is above or below a predetermined value.

Another object is to provide such an arrangement in which the motor is a two phase motor` and in which the circuit to one winding includes a capacitive reactance so that the phase relation between the currents flowing, through the two windings is changed with a change in frequency.

Another object is to provide in a system of this nature a means for varyingr the resonant point of the network to thereby control the point at which reversal of the motor means will be obtained.

These and other objects of the invention will be made apparent in the course of the follow- Y ing detailed specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a schematic illustration of my control system as applied to an electronically controlled turbine-compressor system for an aircraft engine.

Figure 2 is a schematic showing of the circuit comprising only the over-speed control portion of my invention.

Figure 3 is a similar view but showing a modication of Vmyicontrol system.

` Figure 4 isa schematic showing of still another modiiication.

Figure 1 Referring now more particularly to the drawings, I have shown in Figure 1 thereof in sche# matic form a complete induction and exhaust system for an engine I0, which may be the engine of an aircraft. Air for supporting combustion in the engine is supplied by a compressor Il, commonly called a supercharger, which takes the air from the atmosphere at an intake I2 and delivers the air to the intake manifold I3 of the engine through a duct I4, an after cooler Il, a duct I6, a throttle l1, a carburetor I8, a-duct Il, and another compressor 28 directly driven by the engine by a shaft 2|. The after cooler l5 is used to reduce the heat of compression to which theair is subjected in the compressor receiving fresh air from an intake 22, passing it in heat exchanging relation to the air delivered by the compressor, and discharging the cooling air through an outlet 23. The throttle |1 may be hand manipulated as indicated by the controller 24. l

The exhaust gases from the engine pass from an exhaust manifold through a duct 26 to a turbine 21 which drives the compressor as indicated at 28, the gases escaping fromy the turbine to the atmosphere through an outlet 29. A by-pass duct 38 leads oi! from the duct 26 to another outlet 3| and a valve 32, commonly called a waste gate, is provided in the duct 30. As this waste gate is opened the exhaust gases, meeting less resistance through the duct than through the turbine 21, pass through the outlet 29 with the result that the speed of the turbine is reduced. On the other hand, as the waste gate 32 is progressively closed, more and more of the total volume of exhaust gases is diverted through the turbine and the speed thereof increases. The speed of the compressor Il, and hence its compression ratio and the pressure of the air delivered thereby may thus be controlled by positioning the waste gate 32.

For positioning the waste gate 32 a motor 33 ls provided, the same being connected through a gear train 34 to the waste gate and beingr here shown as of the direct current, series wound type having an armature 35 and a pair of eld windings 36 and 31. As indicated by the legends the motor may be arranged so that as the field winding 36 is energized the waste gate 32 will be run toward closed position, and as winding 31 is energized the waste gate is moved toward open position.

This selective energization of the windings of the motor 33 is controlled by an amplifier 38 which may be of any suitable type such as that shown in Figure 2 of the co-pending application of Albert P. Upton, Serial No. 437,561, filed April 3, 1942, which isssued July 8, 1947 as Patent No. 2,423,534.

The amplifier 38 as here shown includes a pair of relays 39 and 40. The relay 39 controls the position of a switch arm 4| with respect to a fixed contact 42, closing this switch when the winding of the relay is energized. The relay 40 controls a switch arm 43 closing it against a ixed contact 44 when the relay winding is energized.

When the relay 39 is energized a circuit may be traced from the left terminal of a battery 45 through a conductor 46 leading to both switch arms 4l-43, switch arm 4|, the iixed contact 42, a conductor 41, field winding 31, through the armature 35, through ground connections 48 and 49, and back to the other terminal of the battery.

When the relay 40 is energized, a circuit may be traced from the left terminal of the battery 45, through conductor 46, switch arm 43, fixed contact 44, a conductor 59, eld winding 36, armature 35 and through the ground connections 48-49 back to battery. Thus the energzation of the relay 39 causes the motor 33 to rotate in one direction, as here indicated to open the waste gate 32, while energization of the relay 40 causes opposite movements of both motor 'and waste gate.

The amplier 38 has signal input terminals 5| and 52 and operates tov energize selectively Vthe relays 38-40 according to the phase ofl an alternating electrical. potential applied to these terminals.

The -phase ofl the electrical signal potential applied to the ampliner input terminals 5|-52 is determined by an electrical network of the Wheatstone bridge type which will now be briefly described. The bridge has a pair of input ter# minals V53-54 to which is connected the secondary winding of a transformer 55 by means of conductors 56-51. The bridge also has a pair of output terminals 58-59, the first of which is connected through a conductor 60 to the amplifier input terminal 5|, and the second one 59 of which is connected through grounds at 6|-62 to the other input terminal 52.

The upper left branch of the bridge connects the input terminal 53 to output terminal 59 and may be traced through a conductor 63, a slider 64, a slidewire resistance with which slider 64 cooperates, a conductor 66, a slider 61, a slidewire resistance 68 with which slider 61 cooperates, a conductor 69, a portion of a slidewire resistance 10 and to a slider 6| which cooperates with resistance 10, and on which slider the terminal 59 is shown located. The slider 64 and resistance 65 together form a control point adjuster 12 which is operable by a knob 13. The slider 61 and resistance 68 together form an overspeed limiting controller 14 which operates as will later be described. The resistance 10 and slider 1| together form a control potentiometer 15 as will also be later set out. A The upper right branch of the bridge connects the input terminal 54 to the Ioutput terminal 59, and may be traced through a conductor 16, a fixed resistance 11 and a conductor 18 to the resistance 10 and through a portion thereof to the slider 1|.

The lower left branch of the bridge connects the input terminal 53 to output terminal 58 and may be traced through a conductor 19, a fixed resistance 80, a conductor 8| and a portion of a slidewire resistance 82 with which cooperates a slider 83 whereon the output terminal 58 is shown as located. The resistance 82 and slider 83 together form a rebalancing potentiometer 84 and the slider is adjusted simultaneously with the waste gate 32 through a connection as shown to the gear train 34. A variable resistance 85 is connected across the resistance 82 to control the effective resistance range thereof in a well known manner.

The lower right branch of the bridge connects the input terminal 54 to output terminal 58 and may be traced through a conductor 86, a fixed resistance 81, a conductor 88 and a portion of slidewire resistance 82 to the slider 83.

The slider 1| of the control potentiometer 15 is adjusted along the resistance 10 in accordance with the absolute pressure of the air at some `point between the compressor and intake manifold I3. For this purpose a pair of evacuated bellows are provided, one bellows 89 having its interior connected through a conduit 90 to such point, here shown as being adjacent the outlet of the compressor Il in what is known as the induction system. The other bellows 9| is provided to compensate the control for changes in ambient air pressures in a well known manner, and both bellows are connected as shown to the slider. As the bellows 89 is expanded by an increase in air pressure in the induction system the slider 1| moves to the right, as here shown, while as the bellows collapses due to a decrease in such pressure the slider moves in the opposite direction.

Operation of Figure 1 With the parts in the positions shown ythe bridge is assumed to be in a balanced condition. That is. the output terminals 50 and 59 are at equal potential with respect to the input terminals 53 and 54. No signal potential is then present at the amplifier input terminals 5| and 52.

Now should the pressure at the discharge side of the compressor I I fall, such as might be caused by the ascent of the aircraft to a higher altitude, the bellows 89 will collapse moving the slider 1I to the left along the resistance 10. The potential at the output terminal 59 then changes, becoming more nearly that of the input terminal 53 and a difference in potential is present at the amplifier. The resulting signal is assumed then to be of a phase such asto cause the amplier to energize the relay 40 causing the motor 33 to run in-the proper direction to move the waste gate 32 toward closed position. The speed of the turbine 21 and compressor I I is thus increased and the added compression builds the pressure back up toward the desired value.

At the same time the slider 83 is adjusted along with the waste gate 32 and moves toward the left toward a point of balance again with respect to the terminal 59. The slider 1| is, however, now moving toward the right again due to the increasing pressure 'and a point will be reached at which the bridge is again balanced and the motor 33 stops leaving the waste gate in a nearer closed position.

The operation in response to an increase in of the waste gate to counteract this speed increase. In eiect the controller 14 over-rides the call of the main controller 15 for a closing movement of the waste gate when such movement would cause the speed to exceed the safe value. y In accordance with my invention, this controller 14 is adjusted by electrical means as will now be described. The circuit is more clearly shown, apart from the bridge, in Figure 2 and attention is invited thereto.

Figure 2 A variable frequency generator or alternator is indicated at |00 having output terminals I0| and |02. This generator has an output alternating current potential of a frequency determined by its speed of rotation.

A reversible, alternating current split phase motor is indicated .at |03 and has an armature |04 which is connected through a gear train |05 to the slider 61 of controller 14, or to any other suitable work. The motor |03 also has a pair of eld windings |06| 01 and when one winding is energized witha current which leads the phase of the current in the other, the armature will be rotated in one direction, whereas when this current in this first winding lags the current in pressure above the selected value will be obvious,

it being understood that the phase of the signal introduced by the unbalancing of the bridge is then opposite to that previously described, causing the amplifier to energize relay 39 and run the motor in opposite direction to open the waste gate.

'I'he control point adjuster 12 may be manipulated to increase or decrease the resistance in the upper left branch of the bridge. The setting of the slider 64 thus determines the intake manifold pressure to be maintained. An increase in the value of the resistance 65 effective in the circuit has the same unbalancing effect on the bridge as an increase in air pressure and thereby calls for an opening of the Waste gate, and vice versa.

The foregoing system as thus far described is in all essential respects identical with that shown in Figure 1 of the co-pending application of Hubert T. Sparrow, Serial No. 476,797, filed February 22, 1943, which issue August 2, 1949 as Patent No. 2,477,668.

The overspeed control The controller 14, as stated, is a speed limiting control and in the usual case, for example as disclosed in the Sparrow application above identispeed, and thus calls for an opening movementv the other, the motor operates in the opposite direction.

A conductor |08 connects the generator terminal |02 to the common junction |09 of the eld windings IDG-|01 and a conductor I|0 connects the other generator terminal I0| to one end of a resistance from which a conductor |I2 leads to the other terminal of the field winding |05. This vfield Winding |06 is thus continuously energized by the generator |00 with a current, the frequency of which varies in proportion to the speed of operation of the generator. As a result ofthe phase shifting effect of the winding |06 due to the inductive reactance4 thereof the current in this winding lags in phase with respect to the phase of the voltage at tl'ie output of the generator, this lag in phase being reduced by the resistance A conductor ||3 is connected (through conductor ||0) to the generator output terminal IOI and to one terminal of a condenser H4. A conductor ||5 connects the other terminal of the condenser I4 to the other terminal of the motor field winding |01. The generator |00 thus supplies a variable frequency current to this field winding |01 through the condenser H4. A second condenser II6 is connected by one terminal through a conductor ||1 to one terminal of the condenser IH. The other terminal of this condenser I|6 is connected by a conductor I| 8 to a switch arm ||9 normally in engagement with a fixed contact |20 connected to the other terminal of the condenser ||4 by a conductor I2I. With this switch ||9|20 closed, as is normally the case, the condensers Ill-I I6 are obviously connected in parallel.

Operation of Figure 2 The condensers ||4 and ||6 and motor field winding |01 (assuming the switch I|9-|20 to be' winding |06 is equal to or matches the phase of the output voltage of the generator. As the speed increases, the effect of the condensers I4 and I 6 will decrease and that of winding |01 will increase. This increase in the relative effect of condensers ||4 and 6 as compared with that of winding |01 will be greater than the increase in the effect of resistance with respect to that of winding |06. As a result, a point will vbe reached in which the current through the windings |06 and |01 are in phase with each other. This point may be regarded as a point at which the condensers ||4 and I6 are in resonance with a portion of the inductive reactance of winding |01. This may also be considered as a condition of resonance between condensers ||4 and ||6 and a portion of the winding |01, the resonant portion of the circuit being in series with the remaining portion of the winding. At this speed, there will be no tendency of the rotor |04 to rotate and the motor will be at rest.

Now should the frequency of the output current of the generator increase, due to an increase in speed thereof, the series circuit including the condensers ||4 and ||6 and field winding |01 will become more inductively reactive than the series circuit including winding |06, due to the decreasing eifect of condensers |4 and I6 as compared with resistance whereupon the phase angle of the current at the winding |01 will lag that in the winding |06. The motor |03 will then rotate in one direction so long as this condition exists. On the other hand, should the `frequency of the generator output current decrease, due to a corresponding change in the speed of the generator, the series circuit including the condensers ||4 and ||6 and field winding |01 will become less inductively reactive so that the phase of the current is advanced at such lower frequencies. The phase of the current in the winding |01 will then lead that of the current in winding |06 and the motor will rotate in the opposite direction as long as this condition exists.

Thus as the frequency of the current supplied to the generator increases the series resonant network connecting the generator and the motor field winding |01 becomes increasingly inductively reactive while as the frequency decreases the circuit becomes less inductively reactive, varying the phase shift through the circuit in the manner windings are inductively reactive to the same extent.

In its application to Figure 1, the generator |00 is, as shown therein, connected to the turbine 21 for operation thereby, while the gear train |05 is connected to the slider 61. Assuming the circuit constants to be properly chosen, the operation of the turbine at or near safe maximum speeds will result in a generator output frequency at which the series circuit including the condensers ||4 and ||6 and a portion of eld coil 01 will resonate, and the motor |03 will stand idle with the slider 61 near or at the end of the resistance 68 as seen in Figure 1. Now if the speed of the turbine starts to exceed this safe value, the resulting frequency change will operate the motor |03 to adjust the slider to add a part of the resistance 68 to the upper left branch of the bridge and cause the amplifier 38 to open the waste gate until the speed has been reduced to the desired value. The controller 14 thus effectively overfrides the control point adjuster 15 in its call for a pressure increase which would necessitate the turbine exceeding its safe operating speed. As the speed of the turbine and generator decreases the motor |03 reverses to rearm. While normally the correction introduced by downward movement of the slider 61 will prevent the slider ever lreaching its end position, it may be desirable vin certain cases also to provide such a stop arrangement to limit the downward movement of slider arm 61.

However, should the pilot or engineer desire added manifold pressure and resulting emergency power from the engine for a short period, he may readily obtain the same by opening the v switch IIS-|20 to disconnect condenser ||6 from described. At a predetermined frequency subthe circuit. As stated hereinbefore, this deof the generator |00 above or below the selected where L equals the inductance (of the eld winding |01) and C the capacity, it follows then that such decrease in the capacity of the condenser increases the frequency at which the series circuit will resonate and hence will increase the frequency at which the circuits through both Freq uency motor reversal takes place and permits the waste gate to be closed beyond the normal point. For convenience the switch arm I9 may be manipulated by a knob |22 (Figure 1) located convenient to the hand of the pilot or engineer of the aircraft.

Figure 3 which the current through the two motor wind ings is in phase is one in which a resonant condition existed only between the condensers ||4 andll and a portion of the winding |01. In order for the currents through the two windings |06 and |01 to be in phase with each other under these conditions, it is necessary that the current through winding |01 be greater than that through winding |06. In other words, if the condensers ||4 and ||6 and a portion of winding |01 are resonant with each other, it is necessary that the voltage drop across the remaining part of winding |01 be equal to that across the winding |06. This can only occur when a greater amount of current is flowing through Winding |01 than through winding |06. In the arrangement of Figure 3, an additional inductive reactor |23 has been connected in series with condensers H4 and denser ||6 may be disconnected from condenser ||4 by opening switch I9 to change the resonant frequency when it is desired to operate the turbine at a higher speed thannormally considered desirable.

Operation of Figure 3- The operation of the system of Figure 3 will be obvious from the previous description of Figure 2 and the above description of the elements of Figure 3. As long as the frequency is below the desired maximum, the slider |61 will be maintained at one end of resistor`68. Upon the speed rising above the speed corresponding to the resonant frequency, the motor |03 will be rotated in such a direction as to move arm 61 downwardly with respect to resistor 68 so as to introduce a variable portion of resistor 68 into the circuit. This will in turn cause the waste gate to move towards open position to reduce the speed to the desired value. As soon as the speed'reaches the desired value, the current through the two windings will be in phase again so that the motor |03 will stop. When the speed again drops below the maximum desired value. the motor will be operative to re;- turn the slider 61 to the upper end of resistor 68.

The system is shown again as arranged for operating the controller 14 but is not, -of course, limited to such application.

Figure 4 In Figure 4, a similar system is shown and so far as the circuit is common to'that of Figure 3, similar reference characters are used to indicate corresponding parts.

In this system, the condenser ||4 is paralleled by -a variable inductive reactor 24 connected by conductors |25 and |26 to the opposite terminals of the condenser ||4. The reactor |24 is then arranged to be varied in magnitude as the motor |03 rotates by a connection |23 to the gear train |05 as shown. As with Figure 3, an inductive reactor |23 is connected in series withtwinding |01.

Operation of Figure 4 The system of Figure 4 will operate like that of Figures I1 and 3 except that as the motor |03 is set in operation by a change in frequency of the alternator output from the selected value, the reactor |24 is varied at the same time. Should the frequency increase, due to an increase in the speed of generator |00, the resulting increase in inductive' reactance of the series circuit including the condenser ||4, the inductive reactor |23 and the winding |01 will cause motor rotation in a direction such as rto cause downward movement of slider 61. The connection |28 is so designed that this movement causes an accompanying decrease in the value ofvariable reactor |24 to counteract such increased reactance of the series circuit. The movement of slider 61 will continue until the decreased effect of the variable reactor |24 will offset the inductive reactance of the circuit brought about by the increase in frequency of the alternator output. The opposite effect will be present when the frequency decreases.

The reactor |24 is thus seen to act as a followup impedance. Since the movement of slider 61 is, with this arrangement, proportional to the change in frequency, it will be readily apparent that a system of this nature may be employed as a frequency meter, the slider 61 or other driving parts being calibrated to read the magnitude of frequency directly, as will be understood.

I claim as my invention: y

1. In combination; a compressor; means for driving said compressor; control lmeans including a device responsive to a pressure condition affected by the operation of the compressor for controlling the operation of a rst reversible motor which adjusts said driving means to maintain said pressure condition ata constant value; and speed limiting means for varying the action of said control means to prevent the speed of said driving means from' exceeding a predetermined critical value regardless of the value of said pressure condition, said speed limiting means comprising a variable frequency generator driven by said driving means and having a periodically varying current output of a frequency dependent upon the speed of the motor, a second reversible motor associated with said control means, said second reversible motor comprising two phasefwindings connected to said generator, said motor operating in one direction or another depending upon whether the current in one winding leads or lags thatthrough the other, and means responsive to the frequency of the generator output for varying the phase relationship between the currents flowing through said windings of said second reversible motor to cause the latter to affect said control means to reduce the speed of said driving means whenever it exceeds said predetermined critical value, said previously nam'ed means including capacitively and inductively reactive impedances connected in series with one of said motor windings and which are resonant at a predetermined frequency related to said critical speed.

2. In combination; a compressor; a motor for driving said compressor; control means for said motor, said control means comprising an electrical network 'including an impedance varied by a device responsive to a pressure condition i affected by the operation of the compressor so as to control the operation of a first reversible electric motor which adjusts the speed of said driving motor to maintain said pressure condition at a 'constant value; and speed limiting means for varying the action of said control means to prevent the speed of said driving motor from exceeding a predetermined critical value regardless of the value of said pressure condition, said speed limiting means comprising a variable frequency generator driven by said driving motor and having a periodically varying current output of a frequency dependent upon the speed of the driving motor, a further variable impedance in said network. a second reversible motor for varying the value of said further impedance. and m'eans responsive to the frequency of the generator output for controlling said second reversible motor to cause the latter to affect said control means to reduce the speed of said driving motor whenever it exceeds said predetermined critical value.

3. In combination; a compressor; means for driving said compressor; control means including a device responsive to a pressure-condition affected by the operation of the compressor for controlling the operation of a first reversible motor which 11 adjusts the speed of said driving means to maintain said pressure condition at a constantl value; and speed limiting means for varying the action of said control means to prevent the speed of said driving means from exceeding a predetermined critical value regardless of the value of said pressure condition, said speed limiting means comprising a variable frequency generator driven by said driving means and having a periodically varying current output of a frequency dependent upon the speed of the driving means, a second reversible motor associated with said control means, said second reversible motor having two phase windings connected to the output of said generator and said second motor operating in reverse directions with a reversal in the phase relationship in the current fiowing through the windings, and means responsive to the frequency of the generator output for varying the phase relationship between the currents flowing through said windings of said second reversible motor to cause the latter to affect said control means to reduce the speed of said driving means whenever it exceeds said predetermined critical value.

4. In combination; a compressor; means for driving sad compressor; control means including a device responsive to a pressure condition affected by the operation of the compressor for controlling the operation of a first reversible motor which adjusts the speed of said driving means to maintain said pressure condition at a constant value; and speed limiting means for varying the action of said control means to prevent the speed of said driving means from exceeding a predetermined critical value regardless of the value of said pressure condition, said speed limiting means comprising a variable frequency generator driven g by said driving means and having a periodically varying current output of a frequency dependent upon the speed of the driving means, a second reversible motor associated with said control means, said second reversible motor having two phase windings connected to the output of said generator and s aid second motor operating in reverse directions with a reversal in the phase relationship in the current flowing through the windings, and means responsive to the frequency of the generator output for varying the phase relationship between the currents flowing through said windings of said reversible motor to cause the latter to affect said control means to reduce the speed of said driving means whenever it exceeds said predetermined critical value, said last named means comprising impedance elements which are resonant at a predetermined frequency related to said critical speed.

5. In combination; a compressor; means for driving said compressor; control means including a device responsive to a pressure condition aiected by the operation of the compressor for controlling the operation of a first reversible motor which adjusts said driving means to maintain said pressure condition at a constant value; and speed limiting means for varying the action of said control means to prevent the speed of said driving means from exceeding a predetermined critical value regardless of the value of said pressure condition, said speed limiting means comprising a variable frequency generator driven by said driving means and having a periodically varying current output of a frequency dependent upon the speed of the driving means, a second reversible motor associated with said control means, said second reversible motor having two phase windings connected to the output ofsaid generator and said second motor operating in reverse directions with a reversal in the phase relationship in the current flowing through the windings, means responsive to the frequency of the generator output for varying the phase relationship between the currents flowing through said windings of said second reversible motor to cause the latter to affect said control means to reduce the speed of said driving `means whenever it exceeds said predetermined critical value, said last named means comprising capacitively and inductively reactive impedance means which are resonant at a predetermined frequency related to said critical speed,

and means'for changing the value of one of said impedance means to vary the value of said critical speed.

6. In combination; a compressor; means for driving said compressor; control means including a device responsive to a pressure condition aifected by the operation of the compressor for controlling the operation of a first reversible motor which adjusts the speed of said driving means to maintain said pressure condition at a constant value; and speed limiting means for varying the action of said control means to prevent the speed of said driving means from exceeding a predetermined critical value regardless of the value of said pressure condition, said speed limiting means comprising a variable frequency generator driven by said driving means and having a periodically varying current output of a frequency dependent upon the speed of the driving means, a second reversible motor associated with said control means, said second reversible motor having two phase windings connected to the output of said generator and said second motor operating in reverse directions with a reversal in the phase relationship in the current flowing through the windings, means responsive to the frequency of the generator output for varying' the phase relationship between the currents flowing through said windings of said second reversible motor to cause the latter to affect said control means to reduce the speed of said driving means whenever it exceeds said predetermined critical value, said last named means comprising capacitively and inductively reactive impedance means which are resonant at a predetermined frequency related to said .critical speed, and means driven by said second motor to vary the reactance of one of said impedance means to terminate operation of the second motor when the same has moved an amount proportional to that by which the speed has exceeded said predetermined critical value.

7. In a speed control for a turbine driven compressor, first electrical motor means variably positioned to regulate the speed of the compressor, means including an electrical network connected to energize said first motor means, second electrical motor means, means indicative-of the need for a change in the speed of the compressor controlling said second motor means, and means connecting said second motor means to said network in a manner to variably adjust the energizing effect of said network upon said first motor means.

8. In a speed control for a turbine driven compressor, first electrical motor means variably positioned to maintain a predetermined speed of the compressor, amplifier means, a balanceable electrical network having a rheostat therein, energizing means for said rst motor means' including said amplifier and said network, said energizingv means being adapted to be effective in accordance with the balance ,of said network, second electrical motor means, means indicative of the need for a change in speed of the compressor controlling said second motor means, and means connecting said second motor means to the rheostat of said network to Vary the balance of said network in accordance with the maintaining of'a predetermined desired speed of said compressor.

9. In a speed control for a turbine driven compressor, arst electrical reversible motor means adapted to regulate the speed of the compressor, a second electrical motor means, 'energizing means for said second motor means including means indicative of the need for a change in speed of the compressor, and electrical coupling means interconnecting said rst and second motor means in such a manner that said second motor means is effective to position said rst motor means to maintain a predetermined speed of said compressor, said electrical coupling means including an electrical amplifier.

10. -In a speed control fora turbine'driven compressor, a rst electrical motor means adapted to vary the speed of the compressor, a second electrical motor means, energizing means for said second named motor means including compressor speed responsive means controlling said second named motor means upon the compressor exceeding a predetermined speed, and electrical coupling means interconnecting said rst and second motor means, said coupling means including electrical amplifier means for energizing said iirst motor means in accordance with the energization of said second motor means 4by said speed responsive means to maintain the speed of the compressor below a. predetermined safe value.

f 11. In a speed control for a turbine driven compressor, an electrical motor for regulating the speed of the compressor, means including a balanceable electrical network connected to cause a reverse control effect of said motor with reversal in balance of said network, electrical phase responsive means,meansindicative of the need for a change in the speed of the compressor reversibly controlling said phase responsive means in accordance with the'phase of an electrical signal controlled by the speed of the compressor, and means connecting said phase responsive means to said network to Variably adjust the balance of said network in accordance with the phase of the signal applied to said phase responsive means. WILLIS H. GILLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Hoffman et al. May 15, 1945 

